The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have begun the initial stages of their major offensive in the Gaza Strip, called “Gideon’s Chariots.” Under this operation, they launched extensive attacks and mobilised forces to seize strategic areas in the Gaza Strip. Through Gideon’s Chariots, IDF aims to achieve all the goals of the war in Gaza, including the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas. Additionally, IDF Spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani has listed down the major objectives of Operation Gideon’s Chariot through a video message on Monday.
Lt Col Shoshani informed that the IDF ground forces advanced their operations in Northern and Southern Gaza. “After the October 7th massacre, our mission is clear. Bring our hostages home and dismantle Hamas’s military and governing capabilities”, he said.
Along with the video message, Shoshani wrote on X, The start of Operation Gideon’s Chariots: Operating to free our hostages, stop Hamas and protect our people.
Objectives Of Gideon’s Chariots
Shoshani listed down four objectives of the Gideon’s Chariots mission. These are-
a) Give advanced warnings to uninvolved civilians to make sure they get out of harm’s way
b) Control the battlefield
c) Protect Israeli civilians
d) Dismantle Hamas’ leadership and capabilities.
The start of Operation Gideon’s Chariots: Operating to free our hostages, stop Hamas and protect our people. pic.twitter.com/R5fEmKoHDK
— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) May 18, 2025
Meanwhile, IDF too stated that 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐳𝐚 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 “𝐆𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐬.
The post by IDF added, “Over the past week, the IAF conducted a preliminary wave of strikes, striking over 670 Hamas terror targets throughout Gaza to disrupt enemy preparations and support ground operations. The IAF continues to provide consistent support to operating troops in Gaza.”
𝐈𝐃𝐅 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐳𝐚 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 “𝐆𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐬”
Over the past week, the IAF conducted a… pic.twitter.com/3qZq1ngMfH
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 18, 2025
Earlier, The Times of Israel quoted Israeli officials who stated that “Gideon’s Chariots would see the IDF “conquering” Gaza and retaining the territory; moving the Palestinian civilian population toward the south of the Strip; attacking Hamas; and preventing the terror group from taking control of humanitarian aid supplies.”
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